Tatum was the true genius. He really was the absolute best ! Masters like O Peterson and even great classical pianist were awed by him. One miracle after another. Thank god for Art Tatum!
When Oscar Peterson was young, he was shown a record of Art Tatum. He was so humbled that he refused to play the piano for several weeks. Eventually, he became good friends with Tatum, but still would not play if Tatum was listening.
For the longest time, I couldn't figure out why someone as gifted and talented as Oscar Peterson was intimidated by Art Tatum's playing to the point of refusing to play anything in his presence. The more I listen to Tatum - for whom the word 'genius' was an understatement - I really "get it". Stunning! Thank goodness some of these performances were captured for the world to see and endlessly enjoy!
Art heard so much, consumed so much, that his phenominal facility allowed him to create a fantastic musical canvas, that was way above other pianists. His classical training was a factor, but his natural ability was, I think, a greater factor. RIP Art...we won't hear his like again.
Is it overdone? Well, I've listened to this a hundred times and every time I get something more out of it. The guy in the audience at the end says it for me.
Lol! I do think that it very possibly was either Billy Taylor or even Ramsey Lewis, since this was recorded near the end of his life, maybe mid1950's...?
at 2:06/07 life changed!! You just don't do that! Master of his craft doesn't do him justice!!! I'm a modern day drummer/md, fascinated with early jazz,big band & swing piano as a hobby!!! This guy here was at least a century before his time!!!!
This guy was the father of modern jazz piano. Even now it's incredible.I can only imagine how magical it must have been to sit in a room and hear this man.
I love his switching of rhythm and style within a song, at the drop of a hat, and the incredibly light touch; all while keeping the melody in play. It's breathtaking to listen to.
At least, 95 % of the crowd you are referring to does not know who Art Tatum was and they surely never heard this song. I'm a black male who has been teaching music for 15 years including music workshop and most people look at me crazy if I ask about Art Tatum. This type of music is mostly enjoyed by music nuts, and (In the 40's and 50's), wealthy white people.
Tatum was referred to as God by Fats Waller. This is when music was music and not dumbed down. Quincy Jones would surely wretch if he read this and Ray Charles would turn over in his grave. You're definitely just a Kidd.
Master genius of the Great American Songbook….and classical repertoire. Every great artist and music style will be forgotten unless the culture teaches about them….no one yet imho can match Art Tatum.
What more can be said of the "Genius". He gives us magic, miracles and makes our dreams come true. Aren't some of us so blessed to be able to hear all the magic he gave us, to be alive and enjoy this awesome talent. I always know deep within me he is everything to live for.... everything!
You can really hear Tatum elements in Peterson's work. I didn't see this comment in the threads: He WAS blind. I first heard him on a PBS radio station (before the net). I was so excited I called asked "Who was That?" Went out and bought the entire solo masterpieces on vinyl.
@johnnycchops I liked the one at 2:33 - 2:37 a little more actually. It's amazing how he could hold that suspension while going down the scale. I have to learn that.
@Twoffles Seriously, the first time I heard this, I knew I'd never forget it. God dang this is the most beautiful music I've ever heard. i love Rachmaninov, Chopin, Liszt, Joplin, Bach, etc, but man.... Screw them! I'm going to try to play at least a watered down version of this.
In jazz,you have to first listen to the "head".This is usually the first part of the piece where the musician quotes the melody for you with little re-inventions. It's very easy to pick out particularly in a piece like this because it's a well known standard. After the muscian quotes the melody for the listner,then they start reinventing it.They may shift keys,used flatted fifths(as in Tatum's case),and other musical devices.. continued
The fast runs and flourishes simply make the contrasting slower melodic sections that much more effective. Horowitz, a big fan of Tatum, used similar wide contrasts in his own arrangements. If all you can remembr are the technical flourishes, that you have missed the point of Tatum's extraordinary performance.
according to Classic Arts Showcase, Tatum had a few lessons at Toledo Acamemy for Music, but was mostly self taught----no teacher ever could keep up with his talent which was out of this world
It's sad the comments are years ago. No one listens to songs and the great talent that played them anymore . The Hippies threw away our great songs. No one would even relate to Liberace today who played all the standards
But you know, I once saw, on the same evening, first Oscar P. and then Count Basie. Peterson played 100 times as many notes as Basie, but every Basie note counted, and in the end I was more impressed by him. I understand also that hearing a Tatum recording almost caused a teenage Oscar to give up piano! I'm glad he got over that; he was a monster too.
this is so odd since Oscar greatly admired Nat Cole because of his economy when playing the piano. I think Oscar just had a round about way of expressing himself whereas Basie and Cole could say what they wanted with much fewer notes.
but if you have a good ear you hear that the essence of the piece isn't lost. Actually, Tatum doesn't depart from the melody much at all - he just throws in some embelishments, makes the piece swing, and does some beautiful harmonic reinventions.
To the poster, EccentricXXX: While it is true that George Gershwin wrote what Art Tatum performed, without Ira Gershwin, it would just be known as dah dah dah dah du du doo. Since Ira put the words "Someone to Watch Over Me" to this tune, he should be credited as the co-writer. It's the lyrics we silently think of as Art works his magic.
Coltranism was a difficult taste for me to aquire. that free jazz is hard to get a feel for, but once you get into it, its truly liberating music. and also wow this rendition by tatum was beautiful!
I don't have anything against fat people but I can't stand the fat thumbs that click dislike instead of like. At least there were only two. Just recently learned who Art Tatum was and started looking his recordings up. This performance is amazing!
If you read the transcriptions of ATs music, you'll see those marks (sorry, I forget what they're called) meaning "Do not let go of any key played between start and end of this mark". Kind of a bow..? Anyways, that's where AT rolls: The annotation doesn't mean what it usually does. I think Tchaikovsky made some etudes, which a good lot people have used as a base for their rolls. :)
Aaaah I get it. I've been figuring out what type of technique is used in that passage cause I hear it a lot of times in the recordings of pianists in the Tatum tradition.
Check out Johnny Costa, he's the Piano from the TV Show Mister Rogers Neighborhood he is also known as The White Tatum. He can play piano like him as well.
There is confusion, because some people also call that stick in a mechanical piano a "roll of notes" or just "roll". But between jazzmen, a roll has always meant either 1) what I outlined before, a hell of a lot of notes filling a gap, or 2) a lucky streak, where nothing seems capable of going wrong. :)
A piano roll? This isn't a piano roll. This is the original recording of Art Tatum playing the piece, I believe it's from the "20th century Piano Genius" album since there are people talking in the end (they're probably friends or musicians beside him, watching him play). Remarkable audio quality though, for a recording more than 50 years ago.
Wait are you sure that's a "roll"? Cause I'm trying to figure out how to play that but it's kind of hard searching for it. I end up getting "piano rolls" (the recordings made on keyboard). Is this the proper term?
Umm... a "roll" is when you have a heck of lot of notes in between those, which carry the tune, like at 1:39. What I said is that Art Tatum made/makes (IMO, he hasn't been surpassed) the best rolls: You can hear him hit every key on purpose, he doesn't just make a flat hand and sweep, like Jerry Lee Lewis. Art Tatum plays it out. And yes, that record is in really good shape for an old lady ;)
@SymphonyOfTheMinD yeah definitely. i agree with the first part of what you said but theres a lot of amazing playing that isnt over the top. fats waller for example is just amazing without being over the top. but no yeah i now get art tatum a lot more. i like him a LOT! hes amazing. and hes not bebop. i dont really like bebop
@keyzcity First off, that is not 'shred,' and that's not guitar, it's asburd to even characterize it as such. Those embellishments he's playing are still unmatched in their accuracy to this day. Don't even presume to insult one of the world's greatest every pianist by offering such a trite criticisms that's not even genre respectful.
A Great "Someone" was surely watching over this blind man to have such a talent.
That gives a new meaning to the "hand of God".
Tatum was the true genius. He really was the absolute best ! Masters like O Peterson and even great classical pianist were awed by him. One miracle after another. Thank god for Art Tatum!
We mere mortals bow before the glorious skills of the Supreme Master!
When Oscar Peterson was young, he was shown a record of Art Tatum. He was so humbled that he refused to play the piano for several weeks. Eventually, he became good friends with Tatum, but still would not play if Tatum was listening.
If there was a God of Music election, I would vote for Art!
For the longest time, I couldn't figure out why someone as gifted and talented as Oscar Peterson was intimidated by Art Tatum's playing to the point of refusing to play anything in his presence. The more I listen to Tatum - for whom the word 'genius' was an understatement - I really "get it". Stunning! Thank goodness some of these performances were captured for the world to see and endlessly enjoy!
This was recorded live in 1955 if anyone's wondering
He indulges completely in his fluency. A rare thing that is in the original sense breathtaking.
Art heard so much, consumed so much, that his phenominal facility allowed him to create a fantastic musical canvas, that was way above other pianists. His classical training was a factor, but his natural ability was, I think, a greater factor. RIP Art...we won't hear his like again.
za'l --- hebrew abbreviation for " of blessed memory " said often for him here in Jerusalem, Israel.
Is it overdone? Well, I've listened to this a hundred times and every time I get something more out of it. The guy in the audience at the end says it for me.
I never get tired of this recording. Awesome stuff. Never another will come close to Tatum in my mind.
Tatum's always overdone, that's just Art for me but still I love it...
I reckon that guy in the audience was Andy Warhol. What do you think? Lol...
Know what you mean, but what about Hiromi Uehara? ...
Lol! I do think that it very possibly was either Billy Taylor or even Ramsey Lewis, since this was recorded near the end of his life, maybe mid1950's...?
I like what Art Tatum does with the high C. He is a musical genius; it sounds like he has 4 hands playing.
at 2:06/07 life changed!! You just don't do that! Master of his craft doesn't do him justice!!! I'm a modern day drummer/md, fascinated with early jazz,big band & swing piano as a hobby!!! This guy here was at least a century before his time!!!!
I make sure I wear Depends every time I listen to Art Tatum. YIKES
LOL
Had it all-from the beginning to the end,,,,,,,,,,,, GENIUS FOREVER!!!!!!!
This guy was the father of modern jazz piano.
Even now it's incredible.I can only imagine
how magical it must have been to sit in a room and hear this man.
...genius does only what it can. thank you, God...
I love his switching of rhythm and style within a song, at the drop of a hat, and the incredibly light touch; all while keeping the melody in play. It's breathtaking to listen to.
At least, 95 % of the crowd you are referring to does not know who Art Tatum was and they surely never heard this song. I'm a black male who has been teaching music for 15 years including music workshop and most people look at me crazy if I ask about Art Tatum. This type of music is mostly enjoyed by music nuts, and (In the 40's and 50's), wealthy white people.
Tatum was referred to as God by Fats Waller. This is when music was music and not dumbed down. Quincy Jones would surely wretch if he read this and Ray Charles would turn over in his grave. You're definitely just a Kidd.
Master genius of the Great American Songbook….and classical repertoire. Every great artist and music style will be forgotten unless the culture teaches about them….no one yet imho can match Art Tatum.
What more can be said of the "Genius". He gives us magic, miracles and makes our dreams come true. Aren't some of us so blessed to be able to hear all the magic he gave us, to be alive and enjoy this awesome talent. I always know deep within me he is everything to live for.... everything!
Thanks again Eccentric for another Tatum contribution...wonderful!
You can really hear Tatum elements in Peterson's work. I didn't see this comment in the threads: He WAS blind.
I first heard him on a PBS radio station (before the net). I was so excited I called asked "Who was That?" Went out and bought the entire solo masterpieces on vinyl.
History's most controlled roll. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY ever made every note in a roll so clear and distinguished. Jees!
woah. I've been listening to him for years but never heard that one before. stunning
Absolutely love his playing. What a talent.
Here is a great Musician so neglected by the listeners.
Let us make that he never dies and is always alive...
Art Tatum and Vladimir Horowitz....The Gold Standard !
the move actually starts at 2:04 JESUS CHRIST! Heaven has to be beautiful with all of greats up there making music!!!
The title of this song is on Tatum's tombstone. Apparently, Ira Gershwin was a big Tatum fan.
Gershwin was reported to have said that when he heard Tatum play I've Got Rhythm, it was like he (Gershwin) was listening to it for the first time.
This is one of the most awesome jazz tracks I heard over years.
Gershwin created beautiful compositions and this is fantastic. What a beautiful and tasty playing ... Genius!
@johnnycchops I liked the one at 2:33 - 2:37 a little more actually. It's amazing how he could hold that suspension while going down the scale. I have to learn that.
@Twoffles Seriously, the first time I heard this, I knew I'd never forget it. God dang this is the most beautiful music I've ever heard. i love Rachmaninov, Chopin, Liszt, Joplin, Bach, etc, but man.... Screw them! I'm going to try to play at least a watered down version of this.
My father grew up listening to Art Tatum records and played piano by ear. He couldn't do anything like this, but had the stride piano style.
Amongst all the wonderful aspects of this performance it's the tenths in the RIGHT hand from about 1min to 1 min 40 which knock me out.
Tabby
In jazz,you have to first listen to the "head".This is usually the first part of the piece where the musician quotes the melody for you with little re-inventions. It's very easy to pick out particularly in a piece like this because it's a well known standard. After the muscian quotes the melody for the listner,then they start reinventing it.They may shift keys,used flatted fifths(as in Tatum's case),and other musical devices.. continued
The fast runs and flourishes simply make the contrasting slower melodic sections that much more effective. Horowitz, a big fan of Tatum, used similar wide contrasts in his own arrangements. If all you can remembr are the technical flourishes, that you have missed the point of Tatum's extraordinary performance.
So lovely to hear that piano, sense of rhythm, élan, spark,yum yum!
jane
What genius sounds like....
@fredachildiev Yeah, I get you. They were both legends in their own way.
according to Classic Arts Showcase, Tatum had a few lessons at Toledo Acamemy for Music, but was mostly self taught----no teacher ever could keep up with his talent which was out of this world
Thank you for posting - Art Taum was a genius at the piano!
Marvellous!!!!!!!
@TheStig678 If there was no Art, there would be no Oscar.
Love his piano renditions - good to work to (with music planning in the background)
On hearing this played on a Disklavier Grand, Oscar Peterson himself was brought to tears...
please
Love him!
Love this version. Art Tatum could find the dominant note in a toilet flush.
Breathtaking piano. Wonderful
Awesome! TY eccentric xxx for posting.
It's sad the comments are years ago. No one listens to songs and the great talent that played them anymore . The Hippies threw away our great songs. No one would even relate to Liberace today who played all the standards
Gershwin!! I love it
greatness
How does he do it? Blind, in pain most of the time i've heard, and yet he plays like this.
But you know, I once saw, on the same evening, first Oscar P. and then Count Basie. Peterson played 100 times as many notes as Basie, but every Basie note counted, and in the end I was more impressed by him.
I understand also that hearing a Tatum recording almost caused a teenage Oscar to give up piano! I'm glad he got over that; he was a monster too.
this is so odd since Oscar greatly admired Nat Cole because of his economy when playing the piano. I think Oscar just had a round about way of expressing himself whereas Basie and Cole could say what they wanted with much fewer notes.
Tatum is fantastic. But it's Gersshwin who makes me want to cry.
Stuff like this puts me into tears of joy. It also made me shit my pants.
Speaking of jazz greats, he and Oscar Peterson are two of my favorite piano soloists.
but if you have a good ear you hear that the essence of the piece isn't lost.
Actually, Tatum doesn't depart from the melody much at all - he just throws in some embelishments, makes the piece swing, and does some beautiful harmonic reinventions.
E7th run at 2:31-2:33! Love that.
To the poster, EccentricXXX: While it is true that George Gershwin wrote what Art Tatum performed, without Ira Gershwin, it would just be known as dah dah dah dah du du doo. Since Ira put the words "Someone to Watch Over Me" to this tune, he should be credited as the co-writer. It's the lyrics we silently think of as Art works his magic.
Nice in the hall of the mountain king quote
Beautiful...
Coltranism was a difficult taste for me to aquire. that free jazz is hard to get a feel for, but once you get into it, its truly liberating music. and also wow this rendition by tatum was beautiful!
(Jaw Drop) Speechless.
I don't have anything against fat people but I can't stand the fat thumbs that click dislike instead of like. At least there were only two.
Just recently learned who Art Tatum was and started looking his recordings up. This performance is amazing!
If you read the transcriptions of ATs music, you'll see those marks (sorry, I forget what they're called) meaning "Do not let go of any key played between start and end of this mark". Kind of a bow..? Anyways, that's where AT rolls: The annotation doesn't mean what it usually does.
I think Tchaikovsky made some etudes, which a good lot people have used as a base for their rolls.
:)
გერშვინი, ხომ ისედაც ლამაზ კომპოზიციებს ქმნიდა და ეს, ხომ ასრულებს ფანტასტიკურად. რა ლამაზად და გემრიელად უკრავს... გენია!
I'm still sad cuz I didn't live back then.
Art
Art
Aaaah I get it. I've been figuring out what type of technique is used in that passage cause I hear it a lot of times in the recordings of pianists in the Tatum tradition.
Check out Johnny Costa, he's the Piano from the TV Show Mister Rogers Neighborhood he is also known as The White Tatum. He can play piano like him as well.
A great Jazz pianist
There is confusion, because some people also call that stick in a mechanical piano a "roll of notes" or just "roll". But between jazzmen, a roll has always meant either 1) what I outlined before, a hell of a lot of notes filling a gap, or 2) a lucky streak, where nothing seems capable of going wrong.
:)
Superb
Le père de l'harmonie et père spirituel de beaucoup de pianiste ,je le compare a frd.chopin comme inovateur de son époque .
A piano roll? This isn't a piano roll. This is the original recording of Art Tatum playing the piece, I believe it's from the "20th century Piano Genius" album since there are people talking in the end (they're probably friends or musicians beside him, watching him play). Remarkable audio quality though, for a recording more than 50 years ago.
2:49 OMG that was crazy
@ugottheblues probably, perhaps, yes.
Without Tatum there wouldn't be a Monk.
If you're kind enough, can you link me some videos demonstrating how to use this device?
if you like Oscar and Art - you should listen to some erroll too!
you clearly haven't seen Tatum play. check out Yesterdays.
Oscar himself said that Tatum was the greatest. Would you reply the same way to Oscar?
Wait are you sure that's a "roll"? Cause I'm trying to figure out how to play that but it's kind of hard searching for it. I end up getting "piano rolls" (the recordings made on keyboard). Is this the proper term?
love your comment!
Depends on what is meant by 'best,' i.e., technique, innovation, mastery, combinations thereof, etc. Sticky issue: It's not a sport.
Umm... a "roll" is when you have a heck of lot of notes in between those, which carry the tune, like at 1:39. What I said is that Art Tatum made/makes (IMO, he hasn't been surpassed) the best rolls: You can hear him hit every key on purpose, he doesn't just make a flat hand and sweep, like Jerry Lee Lewis. Art Tatum plays it out.
And yes, that record is in really good shape for an old lady ;)
@SymphonyOfTheMinD yeah definitely. i agree with the first part of what you said but theres a lot of amazing playing that isnt over the top. fats waller for example is just amazing without being over the top. but no yeah i now get art tatum a lot more. i like him a LOT! hes amazing. and hes not bebop. i dont really like bebop
Girl, did I just shit my pants? You're beautiful
@Twoffles
Both at the same time?
Who’s here after Corey Davis video
I like the way he threw in two bars of My Old Kentucky Home at 3:00.
Better than O.P.' version.
@IntelInside2020 -Errol Flynn or Garner lol
I love what Mr. Tatum does, except for his little tic, that highest "C" he inserts far to often in much of what he plays.
@ugottheblues isnt that why he's the greatest? it wouldnt be significant if it wasnt over top it jus be average right
@keyzcity First off, that is not 'shred,' and that's not guitar, it's asburd to even characterize it as such. Those embellishments he's playing are still unmatched in their accuracy to this day. Don't even presume to insult one of the world's greatest every pianist by offering such a trite criticisms that's not even genre respectful.
The orginal "All I need is one mic" 🤦♂
The piano doesn't have enough keys to accommodate Art Tatum's 1000 fingers.
Super fast!